Just over a year since the passing of her grandfather from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Ballinamallard native Tamara Guy has completed her second fundraising challenge in his memory, raising over £2,500 for charity.

George Guy (63) from Lack was diagnosed with IPF in July 2019 at the age of 62. After battling the incurable lung disease for just over a year, George passed away at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) on August 17, 2020.

Less than a month after her grandfather’s death, Tamara wanted to raise awareness of IPF in his memory and undertook a fitness challenge throughout September 2020 to raise money for the charity Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

As there is no known cause of, or cure for IPF, Tamara was determined to continue fundraising for the charity, to keep research going and support those individuals going through the same experience as her grandfather, and their families.

On Friday, August 27, Tamara completed her second fundraiser, walking a mammoth 40 miles (65km) from Killybegs Harbour to Sean's Corner Bar in Ederney, raising over £2,500 for Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis groups based in Northern Ireland.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter about what inspired the fundraiser, Tamara explained: "The reason I chose the route, Killybegs to Ederney was because granda loved going down around Killybegs. When we used to go on a Sunday drive with him, we'd always end up in Killybegs or we'd go fishing with him in Killybegs and then he loved a wee pint of Guinness in the Corner Bar in Ederney."

Tamara was accompanied on the trek by Kelly Baxter, Lisa Bothwell, Edel McGirr and Donna McKinney, all members of the hiking group Soul Girls Adventure, which she joined in August 2020.

"I went on my first hike with them two weeks after granda had passed. We have done loads of mountains, done loads of treks, so we were kind of thinking 40 miles sounds like a lot but it'll be grand for us.

"But it was tight going," she laughed, adding: "We left Killybegs at 5am in the morning and didn't get into Ederney until around 9.30pm that night. We were over 16 hours on the trot."

During the trek, Tamara experienced a poignant encounter.

She recalled: "On the morning, we were maybe a few hours in, we actually met two cyclists and they were from Dromore. [After seeing my t-shirt] one of them said to me, 'here, I spent many a Sunday with that man in Killybegs, is that your granda?' and I said yeah and he said, 'we used to fish together, we used to hunt together, we went to rallies together'.

"So the first people we met on the road actually knew him, which was just so special. It was lovely."

As they completed the trek on the Friday night, Tamara and the team received a warm reception as they entered Ederney.

"People were outside the pub, clapping and cheering us on, and cars beeping their horns and flashing lights. It was such an amazing feeling, and to be able to do it with the girls by my side, because obviously I've only known them since shortly after granda passed, so they've been a great support network for me dealing with grief and everything," said Tamara, who went on to comment on the support she received from family and friends, many of whom joined her for the final stages of the trek.

When asked what her grandfather would have thought of her 40 mile charity trek, Tamara commented: "My brother actually messaged me that night whenever we had got home, and he was like, 'granda would be smiling down at you'. But actually I don't think he would, I think he'd be laughing and saying that we aren't wise.

"Obviously he'd be very proud but also just thinking, 'you've lost the head at this stage'," she laughed.